If I'm correct, the reverse of your coin has the word Puduchheri (Pondicherry) in Tamil. From 1836 onwards, the fleur-de-lys on the obverse was replaced by the Gallic cock (with the year below). However, in most of the coins I have seen, the year is completely or partially off the flan.

a & b) French-India, Pondicherry. The problem with this sereis is that whenthe image of the cock is clear the date is mostly off the flan. However whenthe date is fully legible the image mostly becaomes a headless chicken.Herewith two image showing the full image of the cock and the date (stillpartly cut off) 1836. The reverse legend in Tamil reads: Pudu/chhe/ri

The cock (especially he fighting cock) was familiar in South India, but I have to wonder about the ball under the cock's feet. It reminds me of the Chinese lion statues. When they play ball, they're masculin. However, the heraldic lily must have been completely strange to the Indians. The illustrations of the the superbly clear coins from Oesho's collection makes this yet another thread to drool over.

Overlord's funny smiley cock reminded me of an ad on the blind wall of a house in Antwerp, now disappeared, where a smiling cock is cooking a hapless cook in a large pot, saying "plezant hè" (feels good, doesn't it?)

Peter

« Last Edit: March 26, 2008, 09:53:23 AM by Figleaf »

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An unidentified coin is a piece of metal. An identified coin is a piece of history.

Overlord's funny smiley cock reminded me of an ad on the blind wall of a house in Antwerp, now disappeared, where a smiling cock is cooking a hapless cook in a large pot, saying "plezant hè" (feels good, doesn't it?)Peter

I would have loved to see that

Oesho's comments on the doudoe series inspire me to write a philosophical quote:

Thou shall have the chicken or the date, but never both...................so don't order chicken while on a date

Overlord is correct when pointing out that ball on which the cockerel is putting its right leg, represents the globe. E. Zay, Histoire Monétaire des Colonies Françaises (Paris 1892) described it the same way:Coq gaulois, la patte droite sur le monde (French cockerel, the right leg on the world)